Shoe shining and polishing machine



Nov. 15, 1955 M. N. KLUBA 2,723,409

SHOE SHINING AND POLISHING MACHINE Filed Sept. 11, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fly. 1

F7? INVENTOR.

MICHAEL A/. KLUBA WW 6mm WWW drrak/ve-rs Nov. 15, 1955 M. N. KLUBA 2,723,409

SHOE SHINING AND POLISHING MACHINE Filed Sept. 11, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 By. 2 a

,3 INVENTOR.

M/(wA EL V- K1. U64

A 'OE VEYS United States Patent SHOE SHINING AND POLISHING MACHINE Michael N. Kluba, Altoona Pa.

Application September 11, 1953, Serial No. 379,509

2 Claims. (Cl. 15--97) This invention relates to an improved shoe shining and polishing machine, and the primary object of the invention is to provide a more efficient and practical machine of this kind which is especially, although not exclusively, adapted for use in hotel lobbies and the like, for light shining and polishing of shoes which are not extremely dirty and do not require heavy scrubbing and brushing.

Another important object of the invention is to provide an efficient and practical electrically operated machine of the character indicated above which is simple and uncomplicated in structure, which is composed of a minimum number of durable parts, and which can be made in a serviceable and attractive form at relatively low cost.

Other important objects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein, for illustration purposes rather than limitation, a specific form of the invention is set forth in detail.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front perspective View;

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section taken on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section taken on the line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a horizontal section taken on the line 44 of Figure 2; and

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical longitudinal section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Referring in detail to the drawings, wherein like numerals designate like parts throughout the several views, the illustrated machine comprises a vertically elongated, rectangular cabinet or casing 7 having a bottom wall 8, a back wall 9 rising from the bottom wall, left and right hand side walls 10 and 11, respectively, a front wall 12, and a top wall 14 on the upper ends of the back and side walls.

The front wall 12 is cut away to define a pendant tapered middle part 15 spaced upwardly from the bottom wall 8, and the side walls 10 and 11 are inwardly cut away at 16 and 17, respectively, and the edges 18 thereof merge into opposite ends of the edge 19 of the front wall cutout. These cutouts provide access to the shining and polishing elements within the cabinet 7.

The top wall 14 provides an arm or hand rest for a user of the machine, and mounted thereon is a switch 20 having a button 21 exposed above the top wall, within easy reach to be depressed by the user to put the machine into operation and maintain such operation. The switch 20 has leading therefrom an electric conduit 22 which leads to an electric motor 23 which is supported on the back wall 9 on a bracket 24 at a short distance above the bottom wall 8. The conduit 22 leads beyond the motor 23 and terminates in a plug 25 for insertion in a usual wall or floor outlet socket (not shown).

The bracket 24 is in the form of a shelf which extends to and is supported on the cabinet side walls 10 and 11 and has a front edge 26 which supportably engages a vertical panel 27 which extends across the cabinet 7 and is secured at its ends to the side walls 10 and 11. The panel 27 has an upper edge 28 spaced above the motor 23 and a lower edge 29 which is spaced below the shelf bracket 24. A lamp socket 30 is mounted on the back wall 9 above the motor 23 and is connected in the conduit 22 and has therein an electric bulb 31 for illuminating the interior of the cabinet 7 and the shoes of the user during operation of the machine.

On the front of the panel 27 are fixed upper, intermediate, and lower cleats 32, 33 and 34, respectively. On the upper cleat 32 at the left hand end thereof is a preferably bronze box bearing 36 and at the right hand end of the cleat 32 a roller bearing 37. Box bearings 38 and 39 are mounted on the front wall 12 in line with the bearings 36 and 37, and rotatable shafts 40 and 41 are engaged at opposite ends in the aligned bearings. Flanged sleeves 46 and 47 are circumposed on the shafts 40 and 41.

Mounted centrally on the intermediate cleat 33 is a single box bearing 48 which is aligned with a roller bearing 49 on the front wall 12. A shaft 50 has its ends supported in these hearings and supports a flanged sleeve 53 circumposed on the shaft 50.

An endless shoe polishing belt 54 is trained around the sleeves 46, 47 and 53, and the lower or under surface of the upper or top flight of the belt 54 is accessible through the opening in the front wall of the cabinet. A belt tightener is pivoted at 55 on the front wall 12 and has a spring pulled lever 56 having an arm 57 engaging the left hand flight of the belt 54, as shown in Figures 2 and 3.

Mounted centrally on the lower cleat 34 is another box bearing 58 and opposed thereto on the front wall 12 is a further roller bearing 59, and a brush shaft 60 is supported at its ends in these bearings and carries a circular bristle brush 61. The lower part of the periphery of the brush 61 is exposed below and in vertical alignment with the pendant portion 15 of the edge of the front wall cutout 19. A pulley 62 fixed in the intermediate belt shaft 50 and a pulley 63 on the brush shaft 60 are operatively connected by a belt 64. The motor 23 has a motor shaft 65 which is connected by a flexible coupling 66 with the rear end 67 of the shaft 50 which extends through the panel 27. I

A slot 68 is provided in the front cabinet wall 12 to enable application of the top of a shoe 71 to the under surface of the top flight of the polishing belt 54. A dauber brush 69 is ordinarily in place in a polish container 70 mounted in an opening in the right hand cabinet side wall 11.

With the machine in operation, it is a simple matter to apply a shoe 71 against the brush 61 through the open front and side portions of the cabinet 7, having first applied polish to the shoe 71 with the dauber or not, as desired, and then to obtain a high polish by inserting the toe of the shoe 71 through the slot 68 and holding such toe against the under surface of the top flight of the polishing belt 54.

What is claimed is:

1. In a shoe shining and polishing machine, a cabinet having a front wall, a vertical panel positioned within said cabinet and spaced from said front wall, two spaced upper shafts journaled in their ends in said panel and front wall, a single intermediate shaft positioned below and between said upper shafts and having its ends journaled in said panel and front wall, there being a slot in said front wall intermediate the top and bottom edges thereof, an endless polishing belt trained around said upper shafts and said intermediate shaft, the portion of said belt between said upper shafts constituting an upper flight of: the belt, the under surface of said upper flight being frictionally engageable with the shoe inserted through said slot, a motor in said cabinet, and means operatively connecting said motor to said intermediate shaft.

2. In a shoeshining and polishing machine, a cabinet having a bottom wall, a back wall, side walls reaching forwardly from said back wall, a front wall extending between said side walls, and atop wall= onthe' upper ends of the back wall, side walls, and front wall, a vertical panel extending across said cabinet between and supported on said side walls, said panel being spaced from said back wall and from said front Wall, a motor bracket extending between and supported on said back wall-and said panel, two spaced rear upper bearings mounted on an upper part of said panel, two spaced upper front bearings mounted on-said front=wall in alignment with said upper rear bearings, upper shafts journaled at their ends in the front and rear upper bearings, a single intermediate rear bearing mounted on an intermediate part of said panel below and between said upper rear bearings, a front intermediate bearing mounted on said front wall in alignment with said intermediate rear bearing, an intermediate shaft journaled at its ends in said intermediate front and rear bearings, an endless polishing belt trained around said upper shafts and said intermediate shaft, there being a slot in said front wall intermediate the top and bottom edges thereof, a belt having an upper flight whose under surface is frictionally engageable with a shoe inserted through said slot, a motor mounted on said cabinet between said panel and the cabinet back wall, and means operatively connecting said motor to said intermediate shaft.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 974,585 Minato Nov. 1, 1910 1,032,866 Smith July 16, 1912 1,662,498 Gill et al Mar. 13, 1928 2,653,694 Arnold Sept. 29, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 196,827 Switzerland of 1938 

